ARTIODACTYLES II 5 



easily attract attention even from afar. This, however, as travellers 

 tell us, is by no means the case. Standing among the trunks of the 

 mimosa-trees, which furnish its favourite food, the giraffe cannot, even 

 at a short distance, be distinguished by the sharp-sighted natives from 

 a dead, lichen-covered tree-trunk. Out on the open plains the animal 

 seeks salvation in speedy flight (long legs, elegant hoofs). When attacked, 

 however, it is able to defend itself effectually by means of its frontal 

 horns (bony protuberances covered by the skin) ; for, by swinging its 

 long neck, it can execute forcible blows with its head. 



Family 4: Camels (Camelidae). 



The One-Humped Camel, or Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). 

 (Height at shoulders 6£ to 7£ feet.) 



A. Habitat and Importance. 



The dromedary is met with from the barren regions in the North- 

 West of India, throughout the whole of Persia, in the Caucasus region, 

 in Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, Palestine, Arabia, and over all North 

 Africa. Eecently it has been introduced into dry districts in South 

 Europe, Australia, and North America. Prom times immemorial 

 (Abraham) it has been an indispensable domesticated animal in Eastern 

 countries. Indeed, the existence of whole populations depends on this 

 animal. By its agency barren steppes, waterless and devoid of plant 

 life, are rendered habitable (prove this from the subjoined remarks on 

 the structure of the animal) ; for it provides its master with all the 

 necessaries of life (fat, flesh, milk; even the dung is used as fuel, in 

 place of wood). By its aid alone is he able to traverse the inhospitable 

 tracts of desert sand and rock, and to convey his merchandise from one 

 shore of the sandy ocean to the other. With truth, therefore, has the 

 Arab called this animal — 



B. The "Ship of the Desert." 



Let us picture it in this light. Let us imagine a caravan wending 

 its way through the desert, and consider how the camel, by its bodily 

 structure, is able to render such important services to man. 



1. Heavily loaded, the camels pass on their way; for, being animals 

 of large size, and consequently of great strength, they are capable of 

 bearing heavy burdens (up to 800 pounds ; on long desert journeys the 

 load is only about 300 pounds). 



2. For miles and miles the ground is covered with sand, cutting 



8—2 



